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Diabetes can be more difficult to treat when you are ill. The following guidelines can help your diabetes under control.

• Report any illness to your physician when it increases your blood glucose level.
• Test blood glucose more frequently, at least 2-4 hours until results are normal
• Call your physician and ask for guidance, especially:
  • If high blood glucose levels (250 mg/dl or greater) last more than 6 hours
  • If you are unable to take fluids or food for four hours
  • If you have a fever (101.5 F or greater)
  • If illness last more than 2 hours
  • If you are dehydrated
  • Severe abdominal pain or unexplained symtoms
• When contacting physician, have handy the results of glucose, ketones, symptoms of illness and body temperature
• Continue taking insulin even if you are unable to eat solid food or are vomiting. Your insulin need may stay same or increase when you are ill
• Continue eating foods and drinking fluid even if you are vomiting, having diarrhea, or your blood glucose level is high
• Take at least 45-50 g of carbohydrate every 3-4 hours. If regular foods are not tolerated, try carbohydrate containing liquids or soft foods. The following foods contain 15 g carbohydrate in the amount listed:
  • ½ cup regular soft drink
  • 1 cup soup
  • ½ cup fruit juice
  • 1 slice toast
  • 2 biscuits
• To prevent dehydration drink at least one glass of fluid every hour. If drinking causes vomiting, limit fluid 1-2 tablespoon /20 mts
• Limit your activity if blood glucose is >250mg/dl or ketones are moderate or high